Waters denies Payne pole, Kostecki P10

CAM Waters denied Matt Payne a maiden Supercars pole position in a thrilling Top 10 Shootout on Saturday at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

The Grove Racing rookie had starred to be second to the Tickford Racing ace in regular qualifying, earning the right to be the penultimate driver on track in the Shootout.

Payne, 21, didn’t disappoint, laying down a 1:11.0551s to eclipse previous fast-man Shane van Gisbergen by 0.0993s.

MORE: Teammate trouble hands Kostecki $10,000

But fellow Ford flyer Waters was not to be denied, clocking 1:10.9501s to earn pole position for the afternoon’s 250km race.

Third marks a solid starting spot for van Gisbergen, who will aim to eat into Brodie Kostecki’s 131-point championship lead.

Kostecki will launch from 10^th after being the only driver to fall to a kerb strike; his infringement recorded through the beach chicane.

V8 Sleuth’s coverage of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is proudly presented by Bad Boy Mowers – explore the world of Bad Boy Mowers with the new Spring/Summer catalogue of high-performance mowers here.

“I just made a small little error going over the first right-hand kerb and just bounced a little bit too wide,” explained Kostecki.

“I just got a kerb hop there, my mistake, but the car is pretty fast, and the track just kept getting faster and faster throughout the Shootout there.

“Cam did a fantastic job, so congratulations to all of them for getting pole. We’ll fight back from 10^th and see where we end up.”

Outside of van Gisbergen, it was all Mustangs at the top.

Thomas Randle, David Reynolds and Chaz Mostert made it four Fords in the top six, ahead of Scott Pye, Andre Heimgartner, Tim Slade and Kostecki.

“Pumped to get pole,” said Waters, whose 22^nd career pole is his first on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.

“The car has been pretty speedy all weekend, I just had to put it together.

“Once I got through the first chicane, I knew what grip I had and I thought I was pretty on it, I just couldn’t make any mistakes.”

Payne had mixed emotions about his front-row starting slot, which marks a career-best.

“I came in the pits and watched on the big screen Cam going on the straight and just saw he pipped me for P1,” he said.

“It would have been really good to get pole, but P2 I’ll take it any day. Super stoked, but wished it was one more spot.”

The Top 10 Shootout was held in dry conditions despite a rain shower hitting the circuit after qualifying.

The 250km race will take place from 3:45pm local time.

RESULTS: Top 10 Shootout for Race 25, Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500

GRID: Supercars Race 25, Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500